BCCI refuses to give Rs 100 cr to CWG

Mumbai, July 31: Grappling with allegations of widescale corruption, the Commonwealth Games suffered another blow today with the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) refusing to give a Rs 100 crore donation sought by the Oraganising Committee.

After a meeting of its Working Committee at the Cricket Centre here, the BCCI said it would not be able to extend financial help to the October 3 to 14 event, the build-up to which has been marred by construction delays and now allegations of money laundering.

“The Committee expressed its inability to agree to the request of the Commonwealth Games to be the lead partner by donating Rs 100 crores,” BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

Besides this, the Board also agreed to support New Zealand Cricket chairman Alan Isaac’s candidature for the ICC vice-President’s post.

Isaac was picked after former Australian Prime Minister John Howard’s candidacy was rejected by the Afro-Asian bloc.

“The committee approved the candidature of Mr Alan Isaac, chairman, New Zealand Cricket, for the post of ICC vice-president,” the Board statement said.

Among other issues, the BCCI said the stand-off over the contentious whereabouts clause of the World Anti-Doping Agency has been resolved.

The Indian Board has roped in hockey legend Vece Paes as an anti-Doping Officer.

“The ommittee noted the satisfactory resolution to the WADA Anti-Doping issue, with the ICC. The Committee approved the proposal to seek the services of Dr Vece Paes, former Olympian, as Anti-Doping Officer. The modalities are being worked out,” the BCCI said.

The Board also decided against giving the remaining Rs 12.5 crore of a Rs 25 crore grant requested by the All India Football Federation.

“The money we have already given is given but we can’t pay the remainder because we no longer get concessions from the Income Tax Department,” a Board official said on the sidelines.

The TV rights of the upcoming events were also discussed in the meeting.

“Negotiations are on with Nimbus. The World Sports Group bid was not even opened,” the official revealed.

The Board also approved advance grants of Rs 20 crore and Rs 25 crore respectively to the Mumbai Cricket Association and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association for renovation of stadiums.(PTI)